The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-07-06
STRONG TESTIMONY.
Prohibition in Atlanta.
ATLANTA Constitution, june 2sth. !

ATLANTA Constitution, June 2sth.l
The election at which prohibi
ton was put on trial in this city il
entitled to a place among great
events. No election of a local ma
ture was ever before held in city
of sixty thousand people in which
more was involved. The changes
proposed by it were so radical az
to be almost revolutionary. Over
a hundred business houses were
to be closed. Nearly five hundred
men were to be forced to give up 9
chosen employment. The city
treasury was to be left with forty
thousand dollars less revenue
Trade amounting annually to mil
lions was to be turned away from
the city. Many large business
houses were to be left unrented
OF course, a movement proposing
measures so radical met with the
most spirited and determined OPP.
position. Many Of our best citi-
zens regarded it with outspoken
disfavOr.
1t was said that prohibition in a
city SO large as this was impracti-
cable, that it would not prohibit,
that the trade would be injured,
that taxes would be increased,
that the stores in which the liquor
business was carried on would not
be rented for other purposes, that
the same amount of whisky would
be drank with the law as without
it, the city would only miss the
revenue, that it would be death
blow to Atlanta's progress.
1t has now been eighteen months
since the election, and twelve
months since the law went into
effect. We are prepared thus
from observation to note results.
Prohibition in this city does pro.
hibit. The law is observed as well
as the law against carrying con-
cealed weapons, gambling, theft
and other Offenses of like char
acter. If there had been as many
people in favor Of carrying con-
cealed weapons, theft, gambling,
&C., as there were in favor of the
retail of ardent spirits, twelve
months ago, law against these
things would not have been car
ried out as well as it was against
the liquor trade. In consideration
of the small majority with which
prohibition was carried, and the
large number of people who were
opposed to seeing it prohibit, the
law has been marvelOusly well
observed.
Prohibition has not injured the
city financially. According to the
assessors books property in the
city has increased over two mil
lions of dollars. Taxes have not
been increased. Two streets in
the city, Decatur and Peters, were
known as liquor streets. 1t was
hardly considered proper for a
lady to walk these streets without
an escort. Now they are just as
orderly as any in the city. Prop
erty on them has advanced from
10 to % per cent. The loss of
forty Thousand dollars revenue,
consequent on closing the sa-
looms, has tended in no degree to
impede the city's progress in any
direction. Large appropriations
have been made to the water
works, the public schools, the
Piedmont fair and other improve
ments. The business men have
raised 100000 to build the At
lanta and Hawkinsville railroad.
The number of city banks is to be
increased to five. The coming of
four new railroads has. been set.
tied during the year. Fifteen new
stores containing house.furnishing
goods have been started since pro.
hibition went into effect. These
are doing well. More furniture
has been sold to mechanics and
laboring men in the last twelve
months than in any twelve months
during the history of the city. The
manufacturing establishments of
the city have received new life. A
glass factory has been built. A
cotton seed oil mill is being built
worth $135,000. Allimprovement
companies with a basis in real
estate have seen their stock doub-
lei i'm value since the election on